Stevie Wonder’s music has a sweet spot in jazz – it’s an infectious combination of singable, lyrical, catchy pop melodies combined with at times complex and advanced jazz harmonies that would prove challenging to any jazz soloist. For many music fans Stevie Wonder’s music represents a great intersection between jazz and pop. It is beneficial for those who want to create a music collection that appeals to a wide audience. In the song “You are the Sunshine of My Life” by Stevie Wonder, he incorporates the whole-tone scale at the start. This scale is often studied in jazz circles.
His music is great for players who want to get better at jazz and have a repertoire that will appeal to many people. This is a great choice for people looking to improve their jazz skills.
Let’s check it out!
What is the Whole-Tone Scale?
The whole-tone scale has six notes, unlike major and minor scales that have seven. The term “hexatonic” refers to a musical scale or system that contains six tones. This means that the scale is made up of six different pitches or notes, which gives it a unique and distinct sound.
Hexatonic scales are used in different types of music to make unique harmonies and melodies that are not typical. By having six tones, hexatonic scales offer a different set of possibilities for composers and musicians to explore, allowing for a wide range of musical expressions and emotions to be conveyed. Overall, the hexatonic scale is a versatile and dynamic musical tool that adds depth and complexity to compositions.
Unlike major and minor scales, which have 12 unique scales with their own key signature, there are only two whole-tone scales. The whole-tone scale is constructed by moving exclusively in – you guess it – WHOLE steps!
How To Create a Whole-Tone Scale
Let’s create an example. First choose any starting pitch. We’ll start on the note ‘C.’ Now move upwards, always by whole-steps, until you reach ‘C’ again.
If done correctly the notes of the scale will be: C, D, E, F#, G#, A#, C. There are only 2 unique whole-tone scales because starting on any note will result in the same notes in a different order.
For example, start the scale on F# and you’ll see that the same notes are used: F#, then G#, A#, C, D, E, and back to F#. Same exact notes because we are only moving in whole-steps. So the only other whole-tone scale will consist of all the notes we did not use, i.e., C#, D#, E, F, G, A, B, C#.
That’s what the scale is, now let’s check out how Stevie uses it. The intro to “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” begins with a bright and uplifting sound created by the combination of two chords – B major and F# dominant 7. The B major chord sets a warm and inviting tone, while the F# dominant 7 chord adds a touch of tension and anticipation.
This chord progression sets the stage for the rest of the song, creating a sense of joy and happiness that perfectly complements the lyrics about finding love and happiness in someone special.
The smooth transition between these two chords helps to establish the overall feel of the song, drawing listeners in and setting the mood for the heartfelt message that follows. Overall, the intro to “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” is a perfect example of how a simple chord progression can set the tone for a beautiful and memorable song.
For those who like to think in Roman numerals this is a simple and common “I” to “V7” chord progression.
Remember how I mentioned that Stevie uses jazz harmonies?
Well, on that F#7 chord, he treats it as an F#7 with a sharp 5, a natural 9, and a sharp 11. Let’s aggregate those notes:
F# (root), A# (3rd), D (#5) E (7th), G# (9th), C (#11). Now let’s put those notes in order starting with F#: F#, G#, A#, C, D, E.
Lo and behold, it’s an F# whole-tone scale.
Still not convinced this is what Stevie was thinking when he played this chord? Well then check out the actual notes he played:
Notice in measures 3 and 4 that Stevie Wonder plays major 3rds in the right hand, up the whole-tone scale, starting with the notes ‘D’ and ‘F#.’ That’s a cool sound, right?
So what have we learned from this?
First, the whole-tone scale consists entirely of whole-steps.
Second, that there are only 2 unique whole-tone scales.
Third, that the whole-tone scale can be played over a dominant 7th chord and will contain the extensions natural 9, sharp 11, and sharp 5.
Fourth, that the whole-tone scale can be used – as Stevie used it – to create major third pairs that can be played up and down the scale.the scale.
